Starting Over After 30: How I Moved Abroad to London at 33

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt very strongly about moving and trying a new city apart from the one I grew up in, at least once in my life.

That feeling first really took shape when I studied abroad in Barcelona in 2013. Living in another country showed me that there was a whole different way of building a life - new rhythms, new priorities, new versions of myself I hadn’t met yet. When I returned to the U.S., I carried that restlessness with me. I didn’t know exactly how I’d live abroad again, but I knew that eventually, I would.

The Job That Sparked the Idea

A few years after graduating college, I started working as a field marketer at a software company. I was in an entry-level role that required a lot of travel across the U.S. This helped me gain experience in solo travel and all the mishaps that come with it. Eventually I started longing for a change.

That feeling intensified when a few coworkers I was friendly with were approached about moving to Europe to help build out the market overseas. It was in that moment that I knew - that’s how I’d get back to living abroad.

I didn’t keep that to myself. I had conversations with leadership, including the VP and even the CMO, about wanting growth and international exposure. I shared that I was especially intrigued by some of the campaigns other marketers were running abroad - they felt more creative, more out of the box, and that really excited me.

The message I got back wasn’t a hard no. They both told me it was possible, but it was a matter of timing, business needs, and headcount - and those things take time. I was still early in my career, and while it was discouraging, it was also motivating. I kept my head down and focused on building skills that would make me a stronger candidate if the opportunity ever came back around.

Promotions, Patience, and Letting Go of the Plan

Over the next few years, I focused on growth in my role at the time. I eventually switched teams and was promoted. Somewhere along the way, the idea of moving abroad through work faded into the background.

But the desire to leave the town I grew up in didn’t.

I decided to make my pick out of all the U.S. city markets where my company had a base, choosing to relocate to Denver, Colorado, to inspire a domestic move. That move was important to me - it was the first time I’d left my home state (aside from my semester abroad) and made the solo transition to the Rocky Mountains. Ultimately, it proved that I could successfully start over somewhere new on my own.

Still, I assumed that living abroad might be something that belonged to a different chapter.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

Looking back, this moment wasn’t really about luck - it was about seeds that had been planted years earlier.

In June 2023, I attended my company’s annual user conference in California. The shift I was given was basically my worst nightmare! I was expected to greet attendees and usher them to the keynote session with the kind of high-level enthusiasm expected from Disney World staff members. Cringe.

Unless I’m somewhere on the dance floor and there’s good music playing, you won’t catch me amping strangers up - especially for a keynote session at a tech conference.

Thankfully, my behavior was picked up on by some of the event managing team and I was asked to move to another job. Ooops. This job was more my speed - handing out yummy donuts to people in the keynote session, which meant I got to sit in and listen to our CEO and other executives speak.

Sitting next to me was none other than the Director of Field Marketing for the U.K.

We started chatting about work and mutual connections. At some point, I mentioned that I’d always been interested in moving abroad. I wasn’t asking her for help. I wasn’t pitching myself for a role. I was simply sharing my story.

What I didn’t know at the time was that those words mattered. A few weeks later, she reached out. There was headcount on her team. She remembered our conversation.

Would I be interested in moving to London?

Of course, I said yes.

When Things Happen Fast

From that moment on, everything moved quickly. I think I was officially asked in January of 2024 but things were not approved until March. By July, I was on a plane to London.

In between, I had to dismantle my life in Denver.

Selling everything I owned was both challenging and unexpectedly rewarding. I became a huge fan of Facebook Marketplace.

There’s something surreal about realizing that most of what you own can disappear in a matter of weeks. I still have a few items at a friend’s place in Denver and barely anything at my mom’s house in New York. In a strange way, it was freeing - but it also made me realize that there wasn’t much physically tying me to places that once felt like home.

At the same time, I was navigating the visa process. My company provided a third-party immigration firm, since this move came as a formal offer rather than just me expressing interest and applying on my own. I ended up receiving a five-year Skilled Worker visa, which I recognize was a huge privilege and something I truly lucked out on.

I did have to take a pay cut - which definitely sucked - but I went into it knowing the cost of living and overall lifestyle would be different in the U.K. For me, the tradeoff felt worth it.

By the time July arrived, I had packed my life into five suitcases, said goodbye to friends and family, and committed to a decision that felt both terrifying and inevitable.

Landing in London

The early days were a blur of logistics and emotions. New systems, new accents, new ways of doing even the simplest things. Grocery shopping felt like such a challenge.

Fast forward a year and a few months later, and London feels like home. I have a routine. I have friendships. I’ve built a life here - one that once felt so far away.

It's Never Too Late to Start Over

I was 33 years old when I stepped onto that plane to London.

If you’re reading this and feel like the time for a big, life-changing move has passed, I challenge that thought. I wasn't fresh out of college; I had a career, a built-up life, and a routine that was comfortable.

It’s easy to believe that these opportunities are reserved for people in their twenties. But my experience proves that professional growth and personal reinvention are possible at any age, even after you’ve settled into a path.

My Biggest Takeaway

If there’s one thing my experience has reinforced, it’s this: the more you speak into existence what you want, the more opportunities you create for it to happen.

I talked about wanting to live abroad long before it was realistic. I shared that goal with executives and coworkers - even when the answer was “not yet.” None of those conversations led to an immediate move, but they planted seeds. People remembered. I remembered.

I even changed my iPhone clock to be 24-hour time so that I could read the time with ease whenever my move did happen. One might say I manifested it.

The casual conversation at the conference didn’t come out of nowhere. It was the result of years of being honest about my ambitions, even when they felt out of reach.

If you’re someone who hesitates to say what you really want - because you’re early in your career, because the timing isn’t right, or because you believe you’re too old for a massive change - this is your sign. Opportunities often come from places you don’t expect, but they can’t find you if no one knows what you’re working toward.